Shropshire Star

Telford child sexual exploitation inquiry plan moves forward

A further step forward has been taken in appointing a commissioning body for an inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford.

Published

The second meeting of an advisory group looking at the issue in the town was held last night.

A group of Telford & Wrekin councillors will now push forward with plans to choose a commissioning body for the inquiry.

The commissioning body will then pick a chairperson to lead the inquiry.

The process is designed as "double independent" so that the council is not seen to be running its own investigation.

The meeting also welcomed four people representing survivors onto the group.

Councillor Nicola Lowery, member for Ironbridge Gorge, said: "I welcome the survivor's representative's involvement in the process, which gives absolute transparency."

The specifications of appointing a commissioning body will now be finally agreed between the group and the monitoring officer, before the tendering process takes place.

The independent organisation which wins the bid will then prepare a final commission to appoint an independent chairman or woman, who will establish the inquiry.

The tendering process will begin on July 2, and the group is looking for an organisation with previous experience of CSE.

The closing date for tenders will be on August 3, with the successful applicant being announced on August 24.